Apple TV: A Closer Look

Apple had been tempting tech enthusiasts with this new television for some time and only recently has it been released to the general public. Much like other products designed by this massive company, the Apple TV is intended to replace (over time) existing digital HDTV systems with a more streamlined and integrated platform. It is also meant to be used in conjunction with other Apple devices; another way to corner the market in terms of technological diversity. However, is the system all that Apple claims? We will take a look at its basic functions, some benefits and a handful of possible negative attributes before we make a final decision.

The Apple TV at a Glance

We should first note that the idea for a TV from Apple actually dates back to 2006, so the entire project has been a long time coming. The Apple TV is essentially a dedicated hardware application in the form of a hand-held box. It will connect directly to a typical flat-screen or LCD television with wireless capabilities. The user can then access the hundreds of apps which are contained within its software. To put this another way, the Apple TV functions much in the same way as a dedicated iOS that can be viewed on a massive screen. A remote control is included which will provide all of the most basic function options. As should be expected, this system is primarily meant to be used with similar products such as Mac laptops, iPhones and iPads. Still, it is worth noting that other third-party systems can normally be manually integrated into its overall configuration.

Performance and Specifications of the Apple TV

The Apple TV has taken a great leap forward thanks to its adoption of 802.11ac wireless technology; providing a more data-efficient connection and better speeds. However, the Apple A8 64-bit processor is a hug improvement over the Dothan Pentium M which was introduced within the preliminary versions of the TV bundle. Users can choose between 32 and 64 gigabytes of hard drive space depending upon their requirements. Still, this will mainly be for storing films or other HD-associated packages. Most of the apps will require a very low memory footprint and it is likely that they will become even more streamlined in the future. The entire system is powered by a new framework simply known as tvOS and it is very familiar to the other OS versions currently present on laptops and smartphones. The interface is extremely user-friendly and even those with little experience with Apple products should have little issues in terms of learning its basic functions.

The User Interface

While the design and functionality are both indeed impressive, the one noticeable drawback (similar to other apple products) is that the user will be bombarded with other Apple-centric software. In fact, all search results place Apple products first and every purchase must be made via iTunes. This can easily become frustrating to those who were hoping for a more unbiased package. Still, such policies have been the hallmark of Apple and they are not likely to change any time soon.

Our Conclusion

Overall, the Apple TV is full of useful features and tons of handy applications. A robust memory capacity and its ability to function with some non-Apple devices are both impressive amenities to be enjoyed. The only real frustrating point is the sheer volume of Apple-related products and services the user will be presented with. This could take away from the overall friendly “feel” of what could otherwise be termed as an extremely useful bundle.